SRINAGAR, Mar 25: A Special Judge of Anti-Corruption Court Srinagar has sentenced an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) rank police official to one year in jail over accusations of demanding and accepting bribe.
“The judgement was pronounced on 24-03-2023, wherein accused ASI Mushtaq Ahmad Shah then posted at Police Station Charar-e-Sharief, Budgam has been convicted U/S 5(2) PC Act and 161 RPC and sentenced to undergo simple imprisonment for one year and pay a fine of Rs. 10,000/- under each offence. It was further announced that in case of default in payment of fine, the accused shall undergo further imprisonment for one month under each offence.”
“The accused convict has been taken into custody and sent to Central Jail Srinagar for serving the sentence.”
“The accused Mushtaq Ahmad Shah was trapped while he was posted at Police Station Charar-e-Sharief, Budgam on 19-09-2008 following a complaint lodged by one Ab. Rashid Chopan resident of Fresdub, Charar-e-Sharief, Budgam in Police Station VOK (now ACB),” read the facts of the case.
“It was averred that the complainant had purchased 03 quintals of rice from Govt. Ration Depot Nagam, Charar-e-Sharief and was transporting the same in a Sumo towards their home. On his way he was intercepted by ASI Mushtaq Ahmad Shah of Police Station Charar-e-Sharief, Budgam who took him along with rice to Nowhar, Charar-e-Sharief where he demanded and accepted bribe of Rs. 500/- from the complainant but returned only 2 quintals of rice to him.”
“The accused Mushtaq Ahmad handed over remaining one quintal of rice to a Shopkeeper and demanded further bribe of Rs. 1000/- from the complainant. The complainant persuaded the accused who agreed to accept Rs. 500/- only to settle the issue. The bribe was agreed to be paid on 19-09-2008,” the facts maintain.
“However, the Complainant lodged a complaint with VOK (now ACB) and accordingly a team of officers of VOK was constituted to lay trap for the accused public servant. The team laid a successful trap and arrested the accused public servant ASI Mushtaq Ahmad Shah red-handed while demanding and accepting the bribe. The tainted money was recovered from his possession.”
A Special Prosecuting Officer Ghulam Jeelani on behalf of the Anti-Corruption Bureau has contested the case resulting in the conviction awarded by Hon’ble Special Judge Anti-Corruption Court Srinagar, Chain Lal Bavoria.